Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s New Painted Portraits Have Divided the Internet

The artist’s abstract approach has received mixed reviews.

Prince Harry Meghan Markle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may have stepped back from their senior royal duties, but the couple is still subject to questionable painted portraits, much like those before them.

Harry and Meghan were reimagined as historic former royals in two abstract painted portraits by artists Dan Llywelyn Hall. Hall—who was previously commissioned by Queen Elizabeth herself in 2013 to create her royal portrait—completely deconstructed their likeness and instead opted for their essences to shine through the imagery.

Harry’s painting sees him against a teal painted backdrop with dark sunken eyes, full lips, and an orange-red beard. In the painting, he wears what appears to be a beret and an overcoat, and his rosy red cheeks and flaming orange hair dominate the color palette of the painting.

Prince Harry Portrait Wearing Beret Red Hair Coat Painted by Dan Llywelyn Hall

Markle’s portrait, meanwhile, sees her as a blue lady—literally. Hall imagines the duchess with periwinkle-blue skin, with light touching her face in pale whites as shadows are depicted with deep brown and black shading. In the painting, Markle also wears a gold headdress with a sheer veil covering her hair and cascading down her back.

Meghan Markle Blue Painted Portrait Gold Crown and Veil Looking to Side By Dan Llywelyn Hall

Following the reveal of the portraits, the public opinion was divided. On Hall’s Instagram, one user asked “Is this supposed to be a joke?” while another added, “Poor Harry…looks like a crayon piece” under Harry’s painting. While others appeared to enjoy the paintings (“love this portrait” a fan said under Markle’s), the general consensus was confusion. “What is this supposed to be? Art? This work of art certainly does not fall into the category “Artistically Valuable,'” a commenter mused.

It also wouldn’t be the first time royal observers were confused by paintings. King Charles’s recent portrait also sparked backlash despite Charles and Queen Camilla’s stamp of approval. According to the artist Jonathan Yeo, Camilla even said “Yes you’ve got him,” when she saw the completed piece.

As for Hall’s inspirations, he thought of the royals who came before them. “In Harry’s case, I have entered the story before he met Meghan–the young party-goer with his future very much in the balance, a bit like the Bonnie Prince [Charles Edward Stuart] I have likened him to,” he told The Independent. “I thought putting Meghan in the role of the White Queen, who was a Queen Consort and possibly the most influential ‘outsider’ in royal history, might have a fine irony to it and not necessarily beyond the realms of reality.”

Hall, however, does not appear to be bothered by the backlash that his work has received. “It seemed that these figures caught on the knife edge of public opinion were ideal for drawing comparisons from distant monarchs–like the exiled princes and princesses of the past, that lurk in the background but are still irrevocably tied to the job,” he said. “We can’t help ourselves and wonder whatever next?”

The portraits of Harry and Markle will be on view at The Reign exhibit at London’s Society of Antiquaries until July 5.

Related Posts

Old Money Season 2 Shocker: Andy Wakes Up and Drops a Bombshell – ‘Love Isn’t Everything’

The glittering, cutthroat world of Old Money is about to get even darker — and Netflix has just confirmed that Season 2 is officially greenlit. But the…

Old Money Season 2 Trailer Drops: Heirs Return Richer, Colder, Deadlier – A Shocking Inheritance Clause Set to Shatter the Empire!

The highly anticipated trailer for Old Money Season 2 has finally arrived, sending shockwaves through fans of the hit Netflix Turkish drama. The heirs of Istanbul’s elite…

Old Money Heirs Return Darker and Deadlier: Netflix Drops Explosive Season 2 Trailer That Will Leave Fans Speechless

Netflix has just unleashed the highly anticipated trailer for Season 2 of its hit Turkish drama Old Money, sending shockwaves through fans worldwide. The gripping series, which…

Virgin River Season 7 Shocker: Mel and Jack’s Fairy-Tale Marriage Crumbles Overnight After Explosive Bloodline Secret Threatens to Tear Them Apart Forever!

The idyllic world of Virgin River is about to be rocked like never before in Season 7, where newlyweds Mel Monroe and Jack Sheridan discover a earth-shattering…

Amazon Prime Viewers Are Dropping Everything to Binge a BBC Spy Thriller That Fans Are Boldly Calling “Better Than James Bond”

Packed with razor-sharp twists, high-stakes espionage, and a darker, more realistic edge, the series has exploded online, with audiences warning: once you start, you won’t stop. As…

😱🌊 “His voice didn’t sound like he’d be coming back” — The last call haunts the family after the search for Randy Spivey and Brandon Billmaier ends.

The turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico, often a playground for avid fishermen, have turned into a vast, unforgiving tomb of secrets in the disappearance of…